A child has an ice cream during a heat wave in Amritsar, Punjab state, northern India, on April 29, 2022. A heat wave has gripped entire northern India, including Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. Photo:Xinhua

Indian capital region Delhi Friday continued to reel under a brutal heatwave like many other parts of the country.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), the maximum temperature is likely to touch 44 degrees centigrade on Friday.

On Thursday, the temperature breached the 45-degree mark in the city.

A heatwave has gripped entire north India, including Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Heatwave conditions at many places with (a) severe heatwave at isolated places," regional meteorological center, New Delhi in its forecast said on Friday.

The minimum temperature in the national capital was recorded two notches above normal at 25.8 degrees. It will remain the same during the seven days period with a slight drop in between.

On Thursday, the IMD said heatwave conditions will prevail over northwest and central India during the next five days and over east India during the next three days, and are likely to abate afterward.

The unprecedented heatwave has come at a time when states in India are facing power outages in the wake of a shortage of coal supplies. Power cuts have been reported in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Punjab, Haryana and Indian-controlled Kashmir at a time when mercury continues to rise.

Delhi's local power minister Satyendar Jain on Thursday held an emergency meeting over the power shortage fears, urging the federal government to ensure adequate coal supply to the power plants so that an uninterrupted electricity supply to key establishments in the capital, including Metro trains and hospitals is maintained.

"Due to disruption of power supply from Dadri-II and Unchahar power stations, there may be a problem in 24-hours power supply to many essential institutions, including Delhi Metro and Delhi government hospitals," according to a Delhi government statement to local media.

Jain said at present, 25-30 percent of the electricity demand in Delhi is being met through Dadri-II and Unchahar power stations, and they face a shortage of coal.

In India, heatwaves are common in May and June. However, this year summer started early with high temperatures and heatwaves from March.

This March saw the highest average maximum temperatures recorded in 122 years in India.
 

A vendor serves cold sugarcane juice to customers at the roadside during a heat wave in Amritsar, Punjab state, northern India, on April 29, 2022. A heat wave has gripped entire northern India, including Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. Photo:Xinhua

 

People have popsicles at the roadside during a heat wave in Amritsar, Punjab state, northern India, on April 29, 2022. A heat wave has gripped entire northern India, including Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. Photo:Xinhua

 

People drink water during a heat wave in Amritsar, Punjab state, northern India, on April 29, 2022. A heat wave has gripped entire northern India, including Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. Photo:Xinhua

 

People drink cold sugarcane juice at the roadside during a heat wave in Amritsar, Punjab state, northern India, on April 29, 2022. A heat wave has gripped entire northern India, including Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. Photo:Xinhua

 

A man covers his head and neck to protect from heat during a heat wave in Amritsar, Punjab state, northern India, on April 29, 2022. A heat wave has gripped entire northern India, including Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.Photo:Xinhua